Members of the Royal Family on site after the opening of Parliament

PHOTOGRAPHY: This week, King Harald V of Norway once again ascended to the throne, which is used only once a year when the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget) officially opens its annual session. Royal splendor and traditions have been carefully preserved, even after months of political and royal scandals.

King Harald had a wife of 56 years, Queen Sonjaand his 51-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon, by his side at Wednesday’s opening of Norway’s 169th parliamentary session. Beautiful weather outside allowed the King and Queen to arrive in the royal family’s classic Lincoln Continental convertible – the same car the couple rode in when they married in 1968, with police helicopters flying overhead. PHOTO: Stortinget/Hans Kristian Thorbjørnsen

It took the 87-year-old monarch some time carefully enter Parliament with security guards on either side and a royal procession close behind. King Harald has had a difficult year with illness, family drama and falling support for the monarchy in public opinion polls, but he appeared determined to continue with his formal “opening day” duties, which are carefully planned. This is the only time the monarch enters the building where Norwegian law is passed, except on special occasions when no actual political work is carried out. PHOTO: Stortinget/Simen Prestaasen

The royal family members then traditionally shake hands with all members the current Labor Center government before proceeding to the main hall of parliament, where all parliamentarians were waiting in formal or national attire. This is the last year of the current government’s term, before national elections next September, and the government is already pushing hard for re-election. PHOTO: Stortinget/Peter Mydske

Parliament is always a special place on the opening day, ceremonially decorated, and all members stand in their places while the monarch reads the government’s speech called Trontalswhich sets its program for the coming year. The government seats (on the center right) are empty as all government ministers stand at attention in the lower left corner. To the left of them are invited members of the diplomatic corps in Oslo. The Queen and Crown Prince also rose as King Harald read from his podium, as did members of the press and the leaders of all state directorates (center left). The balcony is also full of invited guests, members of the Supreme Court and other officials. PHOTO: Stortinget/Simen Prestaasen

In the middle of it all is the Speaker of the Norwegian Parliament, currently Masud Gharahkhani of the Labor Party, who gives his own speech and leads the singing of both the Norwegian equivalent of “God save the King” and the national anthem. This year, Gharahkhani also sent special greetings to former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, a former Labor Prime Minister who just completed an extended term after 10 years in Brussels. “Dear Jens, welcome home,” Gharahkhani said. And when the roughly 40-minute opening session ended, everyone traditionally remained seated until the signal was given that the monarch had left the building. Then you can start your business. PHOTO: Stortinget/Morten Brakestad

NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund